Some people seem to sail through life with blemish-free baby soft skin. However, the reality is that a large percentage of the adult population does not have this luxury. Many people suffer from skin conditions; some may be potentially harmful, while others are not.
Skin tags fall into the harmless skin condition category. However, they are not attractive to look at, and if they snag onto your clothes, they can cause some pain. If you are fortunate, they can fall off on their own, but other times they do not.
Below we will share some of the best tips on how to remove skin tags at home safely and cost-effectively.
Tag removal bands
The process of using a tag removal band is known as ligation. By using the band, you cut off the blood supply to the skin tag, and it will eventually fall off. You need to be patient though; the ligation process will take about three months.
The bands are available in many pharmacies or online stores.
If you do not have the budget to buy the bands, a piece of string or dental floss will work quite well. However, be consistent about tightening the string; otherwise, the blood flow will not get cut off.
Use of removal creams
You can easily buy skin tag removal creams from your local pharmacy. Once again, this isn’t an overnight process, but it will take significantly less time than using a tag removal band. In about 2 to 3 weeks the skin tag should fall off.
The use of the cream will require that you file down the skin tag slightly to ensure full absorption of the cream. The filing helps remove the top skin. A very high level of hygiene is important so that you avoid infections. The process of using alcohol wipes to disinfect the area and the application of the cream can lead to some mild pain.
Freeze them off!
Some products sold in pharmacies contain liquid nitrogen, which is excellent for skin use on skin tags. In about ten days, the skin tag should fall off. Be consistent with the application, and make sure that you protect the areas around the skin tag from coming into contact with the nitrogen peroxide.
Other treatments
Use tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar or iodine to remove skin tags. Soak a piece of cotton wool in either of the above, then affix the cotton wool onto the skin tag using a bandage. Do this for a minimum of 10 minutes three times a day.
This method is slow and may take several weeks. You also need to do a skin test to ensure that you do not react to any of the products. However, with consistency, the skin tag will eventually fall off.
Final thoughts
We have shared with you simple tips on how to remove skin tags at home. However, if all these methods fail, or are taking longer than you like, you can visit a doctor who will perform minor surgery to cut it off. Some doctors say that if the skin tags are not too big, you can cut them out on your own at home. But, it’s better to err on the side of caution and let the experts handle it for you.